Lathe



(No Model.)

HPG.ALBEE.

LATHE.

' No 42%297. P pntm1June3,1890.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

11.9. ALBEE.

LATHE.

No. 429,297, Patented June a, 1890.

EWEPZZIWZT 4/ 6.

5Sheets-Sheet a.

( o Model.)

H G. ALBEE.

LATHE.

No. 429,297.. Patented June 3,1890.

m II rhw I & lummli lllllllllllllllllil i 'mses/ (No Model.) 5Sheets-Sheet 4.

G. ALBBE.

LATHE.

No. 429.297. Patented June a, 1390.

v UNITED STATES PATENT ()F ICEa HARRY C. ALBEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LATHE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,297, dated une 3,1890.

Application filed June 25,1889. Serial No. 315,548. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY C. ALBEE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Lathes, of which the followingis a specification. 7

My invention relates to improvements in the class of lathes whereby awooden blank of any regular, i rregular, or geometrical form incrosssection may automaticallythat is, by the mere operation of themachine and without requiring handling of the blank after it has beenfed to the lathebe turned to any desired form of cross-section. Amachine of the class referred to is shown and described in LettersPatent of the United States No. 302,644, granted me on the 29th day ofJuly, 1884, and entitled Improvement in Concentric Lathes, and itinvolves a construction and operates in a manner briefly stated asfollows: A rotary horizontally-disposed shaft carriessets ofproperly-arranged cutters. At each end of the system of cutters andaround each projecting end of the shaft is a stationary guide-rail orcam-ring of any desired shape, and on sleeves loosely incasing the shafttoward its opposite ends are supports for the spindle-boxes, which aredisposed radially around the shaft and are also movable radially, beingconfined by the guide-rails, against the inner peripheries of which theyextend and the shape of which they followin rotation with theirsupports, which are revoluble independently of the cutters.spindle-boxes carry spindles extending, of course, parallel with thecutter-shaft, those at one end of the machine being live-spindles,which, besides turning with their support, are also turned on their ownaxes by providing them near their inner ends each with a friction-disk,rigidly secured to it and confined against an annular revolvingfriction-plate, which, owing to its contact with surfaces of thefriction-disks on the several live-spindles, produces revolution of thelatter on their axes, the spindles at the opposite end of the machinebeing non-rotary on their own axes or dead-spindles, and besides theirrotary movement with their support being movable, slightlylongitudinally of their axes against a springy resistance to withdrawthem from The and thus release the work when the latter is at itsopposite ends between a coincident pair of the live and dead spindles,which, be-.

sides carrying the blank around the cutters, (rotated preferably, butnotnecessarily, in the direction opposite that of the rotation of thespindle-carriers, and much more rapidly than the latter,) also revolveit on its axis against the knives. The blank is presented to thecutters, which gradually reduce its diameter and also its form accordingto the shape of the guide-rails, since the latter (through theradially-movable spindle-boxes, which follow in their rotation the shapeor shapes" of the guide-rails) guide certain portions of the surface ofthe blank into closer or deeper contact with the cutters, and othersinto less close or shallower contact therewith, according to requirementfor which the shaping of the guide-rails is predetermined.

The objects of my present improvement are to provide more particularlythe machine involving the general construction thus set forth with anautomatic feed which will automatically compensate for variation in thediameters of the blanks from the diameter for whichthe machine isprearranged, and, further, to provide different other novel features ofconstruction tending to increase the efficiency of the lathe.

My invention consists in providing a geometrical lathe involving arevoluble cutter, a desired number of radially-movable revolvingspindles, anda guide-rail for directing the movement of each spindle andcontrolling the position of the blank with relation to the cutter, withan automatic feed, self-compensating for difference in thediameters ofthe blanks; and my invention further consists in details of constructionand combinations of parts.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of themachine regarded from the front or side at which the feed is provided;Fig. 2, a view of the end provided with the live-spindles; Fig. 3, atransverse section of the machine, looking toward the end provided'withthe dead-spindles; Fig. 4, a broken sectional view showing thespringwingand cam details for withdrawing the dead-spindles to release thefinished blanks and clasp the newly-fed blanks Fig. 5, a side view ofthe cam detail; Fig. 6, a perspective view of a part of the spring-wing;Fig. 7, a broken sectional view showing the connection between aspring-wing and a dead-spindle; Fig. 8, a broken longitudinal sectionalview of the machine, showingablank being turned; and Figs. 9 and 10 areperspective views showing, respectively, a guide and a pusher.

A is the frame of the machine, in which is supported a rotary shaft B,carrying'a beltpulley B at one end and the substantially disk-shapedcutter-heads C for the cutters C, Fig. 3. Toward its opposite ends theshaft B is provided with stationary sleeves r and 'r, Fig, 8, formingextensions of the journalboxes, the sleeve 0' being loosely surmountedby a sleeve (1, carrying adjacent to the end of the cutter-heads twofriction-plates D and D, having a space 19 between them and yieldinglyheld against spreading toward their edges by spring-bolts p. The sleeveq is loosely surrounded by a wheel-like support E for the live-spindleboxes F, which are dis posed radially around the support and areconfined against springs 0 in pockets 0, provided radially in thesupport E, one for each spindlebox,by an immovable guide-rail orcam-ring G, firmly secured on the frame of the machine, and which issurrounded by an annular head G, through which set-screws 0 are insertedagainst the outer periphery of the guide-rail and serve to adjust thelatter with relation to the work. The support E also carries, rigidlysecured to or integral with it, the cogwheel H, from the inner side nearthe periphery of which extend l1orizontally-rounded lugs '12,equidistant apart around the wheel, and to which may be secured a disk72 to shield the spindle mechanism from the shavings and dust resultingfrom theoperation of the machine. Each box F carries a livespindle F,ext-ending at its engaging end beyond the inner face of the disk-shieldn and carrying a friction-disk 19 which extends between and in contactwith the rotary frictionplates D and D. The stationary sleeve 4" isloosely surrounded by a support E, of a construction like that of thesupport E, and carrying radially-disposed spindle-boxes I, which areconfined against springs 0 in pockets 0 by an immovable guide-rail K, ofsuitable form, and, like the guide-rail G, surrounded by a head G forset-screws 0 which, like those in the head G of the guide-rail, serve,by forcing them against parts of the guiderail, to compress the latterand thus bring parts thereof closer to the spindle-boxes. The spindles Iin the boxes I are the dead-spindles, being non-rotary on their axes,and are disposed, as also the boxes carrying them, to coincide with thelive-spindles opposite them, and the support E carries, like the supportE,a cog-wheel II and adisk-shield n. A cogwheel L, secured to the sleeveq, is driven by a pinion c, meshing with it on a rotary shaft a,carrying also an ordinary cone-pulley 0 (indicated by dotted lines inFig. 2,) andwhich has an ordinary belt-connection (not shown) with asimilar conepulley 0 (also indicated by dotted lines,) on a shaft 0(connected with the driving-power and therefore aifording adriving-shaft.) The shaft 0 carries a pinion c meshing with a cog-wheelb on a countershaft 1), extending near the base of the machine acrossboth cog-wheels H, at each of which and in mesh therewith it carries apinion b It will therefore be observed that the cog-wheel L, which isthus geared through the pinion c on the shaftc with the driving power,serves to rotate the friction disks D and D rapidly in one direction,While simultaneously the supports E and E are rotated in the oppositedirection and slower than the friction-disks from the shaft 0 by thepinions b on the shaft 1), which are actuated through the co -wheel b bythe pinion c and the beltconnection of the cone-pulleys c and e permitsthe relative speeds of the shafts c and c to be regulated. The shaft Bisconnected with the driving-power at the belt-pulley B.

The parts thus far described (except the lugs n) correspondsubstantially with the construction shown and described in my aforesaidpatent.

As hereinbefore mentioned, my present improvements relate, besides tocertain novel details of construction, to the provision of an automaticself-compensating feed for the machine, and of which the following is adescription.

At one side of the machine, and extending lengthwise parallel with theshaft 13, a feed M is provided. N is avertical receptacle of desiredheight, supported on the frame A, and which may as a simple constructioncomprise an open rectangular frame with a hopper-shaped mouth on, andthe width of which should be suificient to accommodate blanks O,Fig. 8,of the largest diameter. Underneath the receptacle N, preferably neareach of its opposite ends, is provided on the frame A a pusher P in theform of a block, caused to reciprocate transversely to the cutter-headson a suitable stationary guide I, provided at its inner extremity withan upwardly-projecting stop k. Each pusherP is connected with arock-shaft Q, Fig. 3, below it by an arm 5 on a collar h, secured to theshaft and having a crank-extension h, connected with the lower part ofthe frame by a coiled spring R, normally com pressed and tending whendistended to force the pushers P inward to the limit of their playtoward the stops 7a. A cam-finger 9 extends from the collar h into thepath of the lugs n on a wheel H, whereby when in the rotation of thesaid wheel 11 a lug it (one of which is provided for each live-spindleF) strikes the cam-finger the rock-shaft Q is actuated to turn the arms2' connecting it with the pushers outward, and thus the pushers P areforced outward against the resistance of the springs, thereby as thecam-finger is being passed over by a lug a gradually allowing thesprings to resume their normal compressed condition, and in resuming itforce the pushers inward by inducing the turning of the arms in theinward direction or from the side of the machine at which the feed isprovided.

To operate the machine with my automatic feed the receptacle N issupplied with blanks O, which are preferably of uniform length and asnearly of the same diameter as practicable, but which in the rectangularblanks from which to turn broom-handles (a use to which I have moreparticularly applied my machine) is found to vary up to about onehalf aninch.

In filling the receptacle in order to prevent the blanks from being fedto the cutting mechanism, as hereinafter described, until it shall bedesired to start the feed, I provide an ordinary form of pivotal supportS, comprising a lever of the first class, having a cross-piece, asshown, on its inner end, which may be raised on the pivot and there heldabove the guidesl to stop the blanks from falling by their own gravityupon the guides. To hold the inner or supporting end of the lever S inits raised position I provide a catch S, Figs.

1 and 3, located to be engaged for the purpose by the outer or handleend of the lever when lowered. As soon as the machine is set inmotion,'by revolving the shaft 0 to actuate the supports E and Ecarrying the spindles and the friction-plates D and D to rotate thelive-spindles on their own axes in the desired direction, and byrevolving the shaft B,carryingthe cutter-heads, the supportS may bereleased, when the lowermost blank 0 will sink (by its own weight andthat of the other blanks imposed upon it upon the guides l in front ofthe pushers P, while a lug n is passing over the cam-finger g and hasforced the pushers outward against the resistance of the springs B. Asthe lug passes over the end of the cam-finger, it releases the latter,allowing the springs R to act to force the pushers inward, which pushthe blank in front of them against the stops it, where it coincides atits extremities with a live-spindle at one end and a dead-spindle at theopposite end. As each live-spindle in the rotation of the support Ereaches the point coincident with the adjacent end of a blank 0 fed tothe machine, the corresponding dead-spindle coincident with the oppositeend of the blank is withdrawn, in a manner hereinafter described, justbefore reaching the point of taking up a new blank to release a finishedblank which has been revolved around the cutter-heads;

and just as it comes coincident with the re-' the support E, ithasfastened upon it a wi ng T, preferably of the shape illustrated, andhaving an internally-convex opening as larger than the diameter of thepart of the spindle over which it fits, the outer end of the win gextending into the path of a stationary cam T on the annular head G,near the point of release of afinished blank and take-up point for a newone. lVhen in the rotation of the spindle-carrying supports E and E afinished blank reaches the point of its discharge, the cam T is engagedby the wing T of the respective dead-spindle, thereby throwing thelatter back and withdrawing it from the finished blank, against theresistance of a leaf-spring T entering a socket f, Fig. 6, in the lowerend of the wing T, (which connection permits the radial movement of thespindle-boxes I without impediment from the spring-wing detail,) thespring being secured at one end to the rotary support E.- The spindle isheld out by thecam until it reaches the point coincident with theadjacent end of a newly-fed blank, when the wing passes the cam andpermitsth'e resilience of the spring to force the spindle into itsnormal position and thereby also into engagement with the new blank,which is carried around and turnedinto the geometrical shape produced bythe guiding effect due to the shape of the guide-rails upon theradiallymovable spindle-boxes.

The air-currents generated by the rapid r0- tation of the cutter-headsare so strong that they tend to throw upward the blank as it approachesthe knives in the feeding, and thus bring it out of line with thespindles brought into position to grasp it. To prevent this I provide atone or more points along the inner side of the lower edge of the receptacle N flexible stops 0, preferably of stiif rubber, which extendbeyond the said lower edge, and, while they do not impede the feeding,operate as holders to hold the blank down against the guides Z inopposition to the air-currents.

A stripper d, Fig. 3, extendingjust belowa guide 1 at both ends, or, andby preference, only on the live-spindle end of the machine, (thoughillustrated on the dead-spindle end,) affords, also, a desirable adjunctto insure separation from the live-spindle of the finished blank whenreleased at the opposite end by the withdrawal from it of thedead-spindle in case it shall stick to the live-spindle.

The springs R or equivalents thereofs uch as weights or cams-constituteavery import- Owing to the nature of the feed mechanism the pushers P(or pusher,if only one be pro- IIS lathe into broom-handles, and thecommon diameter of, which, as provided, is one and a quarter inch, I setthe cam-finger g to permit the springs R to force the pushers inward, asthe limit of their inward movement, to within an inch and a quarter ofthe stops it. Blanks, among those piled in the receptacle N, of smallerdiameter will not be pushed into contact with the stop,but short ofthem, and will be grasped eccentrically at their ends by the spindles,whereby they will also be presented eccentrically to the cutters,causing the latter to cut off more at a time from one side of the blankthan from another, but without impairing the working of the machine orinjuriously aflecting it. In the case, however, of the presentation ofblanks greater in diameter than those for which the feed is set, withoutthe springs R or their equivalent there would be no give to the pushers,which in being forced inward would be obstructed short of the limit oftheir play, and would therefore disorganize the machine and probablyproduce breakage of parts. The springs R, against the resistance ofwhich the pushers are withdrawn, overcome this tendency by affordingcompensation for the increased diameter, since when the pushers meet theobstruction presented by such increase the action upon them of a lug at,through the cam-finger in turning the shaft Q, is to distend the spring,causing the latter to give and thus avoiding the exertion of unyieldingpressure against the pushers.

I do not limit my improvement to the particular construction ofcompensating mechanism for the feed herein shown and described, as itcan be readily changed and still produce the same result. i

It should be further remarked that my improvements herein described arenot necessarily limited in their application to a machine constructed inaccordance with my aforesaid patent, but may be used with machines ofdiiferent general construction for the same purpose-as, for example, insuch as confine cams on the ends of the radiallymovable spindlesyieldingly against the outer peripheries of the guide-rails-the shape ofthe cams producing that to which the blanks are to be turned. It willalso be within the spirit of my invention to apply any or all of myimprovements to a machine of the class referred to, employing only oneeach of the live and dead spindles, or having a guide-rail at only oneend and to arrange other parts of the mechanism to correspond.

What Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a lathe, substantially as described, and

involving a revoluble cutter, a desired num ber of radially-movablerevolving spindles, and a guide-rail for directing the movement of eachspindle and controlling the position of the blank with relation to thecutter, the combination therewith of an automatic selfcompensating feedfor the blanks, substantially as set forth.

2. In a lathe, substantially as described, and involving a revolublecutter, a desired number of radially-movable revolving spindles, and aguide-rail for directing the movement ofeach spindle and controlling theposition of the blank with relation to the cutter, the combinationtherewith of an automatic feed having a receptacle N, and areciprocating pusher 1, near the base of the receptacle, actuated byintermediate mechanism from a revolving spindle-support, substantiallyas set forth.

In a lathe, substantially as described, and involving a revolublecutter, a desired number of radially-movable revolving spindles, and aguide-rail for directing the movement of each spindle and controllingthe position of the blank with relation to the cutter, the combinationtherewith of an automatic feed, comprising a receptacle N, areciprocating pusher P on a guide Z, provided with a stop it, a shaft Q,connected with and actuated'to reciprocate the pusher from a revolvingspindle-support, and a spring R or the like tending normally to actuatethe pusher to feed the blanks to the cutter, substantially as set forth.

4. In a lathe, substantially as described, and involving a revolublecutter, a desired number of radiallymovable revolving spindles, and aguide-rail for directing the movement of each spindle and controllingthe position of the blank with relation to the cutter, the combinationtherewith of an automatic feed comprising a receptacle N, areciprocating pusher P on a guide Z, provided with a'stop 7a, a shaft Q,connected with and actuated to reciprocate the pusher from a revolvingspindle-support, a spring R or the like tending normally to feed theblanks to the cutter, and a stripper d, substantially as set forth.

5. In a lathe, substantially as described, and involving a revolublecutter, a desired number of radially-movable revolving spindles, and aguide-rail for directing the movement of each spindle and controllingthe position of the blank with relation to the cutter, the combinationtherewith of an automatic feed for the blank having a receptacle N, anda reciprocating pusher P, and one or more yielding holders 0 in the pathof the blank and adjacent to the cutter, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. In a lathe, substantially as described, and involving a revolublecutter, radiallymovable revolving live-spindles F and deadspindles I, aguide-rail for directing the movement of the spindles and controllingthe positions of the blanks with relation to the ITO cutter, and anautomatic feed for the blanks, the combination, with the dead-spindlesand the automatic feed, of an extensible spring- Wing on each(lead-spindle, and a cam T in i the path of the spring-wings,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a lathe, substantially as described, and involving a revolublecutter, radiallymovable revolvinglive-spindles F and deadspindles I, aguide-rail for directing the movement of the spindles and controllingthe positions of the blanks with relation to the cutter, and anautomatic feed for the blanks, the combination, with the dead-spindlesand the automatic feed, of an extensible spring-wing on each spindle,comprising a wing T, having an opening an, and secured thereat upon thespindle toward its outer end, a socket f in one end of the Wing, and aspring T inserted at one end into the socket and fastened to- Ward itsopposite end, and a cam T in the path of the wings T, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

HARRY O. ALBEE.

In presence of- J. W. DYRENFORTH, M. J. BOWERS.

